Coin-Op Parking

The world’s first parking meter was installed on a street in Oklahoma City, Okla., in July 1935. Carlton Cole Magee’s coin-operated creation limited parking time in order to help clear up congested city streets. But the meter proved most popular with cities for its ability to raise revenue. In 1998, San Francisco, Calif., raked in almost $13 million from its more-than 23,000 parking meters.